Federal Circuits, 7th Cir. (November 29, 2006)
Docket number: 05-4779
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UNPUBLISHED ORDER
Not to be cited per Circuit Rule 53 United States Court of Appeals For the Seventh Circuit Chicago, Illinois 60604 Submitted November 29, 2006 Decided November 29, 2006 Before Hon. KENNETH F. RIPPLE, Circuit Judge Hon. DIANE P. WOOD, Circuit Judge Hon. ANN CLAIRE WILLIAMS, Circuit JudgeNo. 05-4779UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Plaintiff-Appellee, Illinois, Eastern Division v. No. 05-CR-153-1WILLIAM SLATE, Rebecca R. Pallmeyer, Defendant-Appellant. Judge. ORDER William Slate pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery in violation of 18U.S.C. § 2113(a). In his plea agreement, he waived his right to appeal his sentence,and was sentenced to 78 months' imprisonment and three years' supervised release.In addition, he was ordered to make restitution under the Mandatory VictimsRestitution Act (MVRA), 18U.S.C. § 3663A, of $81,000, the amount he stole fromthe bank. The district court ordered that payment of this monetary penalty wasdue "in full" to begin "immediately." But the court did not consider Slate's financialcondition or otherwise set a payment schedule. After an examination of the briefs and the record, we have concluded thatoral argument is unnecessary. Thus, the appeal is submitted on the briefs and therecord. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2). On appeal, Slate argues that the district court erred when it failed to consider his financial situation and establish a specific payment schedule as required by United States v. Day, 418 F.3d 746 (7th Cir. 2005). Slate is indigent; he has been incarcerated since 2005, has no assets, and has earned only minimal income in the past. Slate did not object to the restitution order before the district court, however, so our review is for plain error. See United States v. Thigpen, 456 F.3d 766, 771 (7th Cir. 2006). As the government concedes, the district court plainly erred when it failed to impose a restitution payment schedule. We have emphasized in recent cases that the MVRA "requires a sentencing court to set a payment schedule, taking into account the defendant's financial resources, obligations, and projected earnings." Id.; Day, 418 F.3d at 761; see also 18U.S.C. § 3664(f)(2). The district court's failure to consider Slate's resources and set a schedule effectively delegated its responsibility to the probation office, which is inconsistent with the MVRA. See Thigpen, 456 F.3d at 771; Day, 418 F.3d at 761; United States v. Pandiello, 184 F.3d 682, 688 (7th Cir. 1999). Such a delegation deprives the defendant of a substantial right and constitutes plain error warranting, as the government agrees, a remand. Thigpen, 456 F.3d at 771; see also Pandiello, 184 F.3d at 688; United States v. Mohammad, 53 F.3d 1426, 1438-39 (7th Cir. 1995). And, as the government also does not dispute, Slate's appeal waiver in his plea agreement does not foreclose this appeal because his waiver applied only to the conviction and sentence, and not to the order of restitution. See United States v. Behrman, 235 F.3d 1049, 1052 (7th Cir. 2000). Accordingly, we AFFIRM Slate's sentence, but VACATE the restitution order and REMAND for the imposition of a restitution schedule consistent with our opinion in Day.Try vLex for FREE for 3 days
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